In this thought-provoking episode of The Huddle Leadership Podcast, host Kate Russell welcomes Rita Cincotta, leadership development specialist and founder of The Deliberate Leader. Together, they dive deep into what it means to lead with intention, exploring the critical balance between speed and thoughtfulness, the power of curiosity, and the often-overlooked importance of energy management in leadership.
Rita brings over two decades of HR and leadership development experience to the conversation, sharing hard-won insights about the challenges facing modern leaders—from inheriting teams they didn't choose to navigating multi-generational workplaces. Her approach centres on three key pillars: energy, relationships, and performance, all underpinned by the belief that authentic, self-aware leadership creates the foundation for sustainable success.
The discussion reveals how many leaders fall into their roles without proper preparation, often replicating the command-and-control styles they experienced themselves. Rita and Kate explore practical strategies for breaking this cycle, including the transformative power of slowing down, asking better questions, and creating psychological safety for teams to thrive.
Key Takeaways
Featured Discussion Rita's journey from HR executive to leadership consultant reveals the common patterns that trip up even well-intentioned leaders. She shares the transformative advice she received when entering a new industry: don't judge as you go in. This simple guidance helped her slow down, understand context, and avoid the trap of applying old solutions to new problems.
The conversation explores the unique challenges of middle management, where leaders face operational pressure from both above and below while often lacking proper scaffolding and support. Rita advocates for individualised development approaches that recognise people's different motivations, working styles, and needs—moving beyond one-size-fits-all leadership strategies.
Kate and Rita also tackle the reality of multi-generational workplaces, where experience and wisdom can sometimes clash with fresh perspectives. They discuss practical tools like starting sentences with "I might be wrong, but..." to level the playing field and encourage psychological safety across all experience levels.
The discussion culminates in exploring Rita's book "You Are How You Lead," which emphasises self-awareness, coaching approaches, and the critical importance of understanding your own energy patterns and stress responses as a foundation for effective leadership.
Quotable Moments
Connect with Rita
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